Self-closing faucet.



` T. H. KENNEY.

SLF CLOSING FAUCET.

APPLlcAIloN FILED Nov.2o, 1913.

' Patented oet. 5, 1915.

"mE- Mun 4 C0.. wASHINm'oN D c p'NiTap sTaTEs PATENT onirica.

THOMAS H. KENNEY, or BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SELF-CLOSING FACET.

To all whom it 'may concern.'

vBe it knownthat I, THOMAS H. KENNEY, a citizen of the- United States, residing in Boston, inthe countyof Suffolk andState of Massachusetts, haveY invented an ,Improveinent in Self-Closing Faucets, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, isafspecification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

The present invention relates to an automatic or self closing faucet, and is embodied ina novel construction and arrangement whereby the valve is drawn to its seat by means of`a spring; and held on its seat by the said lspring and Vby water pressure, the actuator or faucet handle being arranged to push the valve away from'its seat against the spring vand the pressure to open'the faucet. s

The valve is further lprovided with an air trap or chamber which is: incorporated in the structure itself for the purpose of pres venting'water'hammer. 1

In accordance with valve seat is formed at the bottom of the outlet chamber of the faucet which has the spout or pipe, and the valve is guided in an opening. through the said outlet chamber,

said spring being mounted on a stem which extends through the said opening. The said stem is provided at its lowerend vwith the valve, and at its upper end with a flange or shoulder, between which valve and shoulder is located a spring surrounding the stem,

the said spring tending to hold the valve against its seat. The valve stem is further provided with one or more lateral projections, preferably having rollers mounted thereon, the said rollers being held by the valve-spring against the face of a cam which is connected with the valve actuating handle. The lower portion of the faucet contains an air cushioning chamber, the cushioning chamber being arranged to surround the tube which incloses the valve seat, so that the water flowing into the faucet will trap a certain amount of air in said chamber, thus giving the necessaryfcushioning effect to prevent water hammer, if the valve is suddenly closed.

i"-\` Figure 1 is a vertical section of a faucet embodying the invention, showing the valve closed; Fig. 2 is a similar view, taken on,a plane at a right angle to that of Fig.l 1; and

i Specification of Letters Patent.

the l invention, the

Fig. 3 is a view, similar to Fig. 2, butshowlng the valve open. The body or shell 1 of the valve visv provided with an outlet `pipe 2, and with eX- ternal screw threads 5A and 4 at its upper and lower end, the interior of saidvalvebody forming the ,chamberthrough which the water'iows when the valve 5 is open. The body is provided at its llowerend with an annular valve seat 6 surrounding a passage 7 through which thejwater can flow when the valve is unseated, thev valvebeing mounted on a stem 8 which is provided with ribs or feathers by which it is guided in the passage 7 without obstructing the flow of water tl'ierethrough.A v l y The valve 5v is constructed in the `usual way, andl is shownas consisting of a washer 9 held infa cup 10 which is secured to the end-ofthe stem 8 by means of a nut 12. The valve stemand-valve are free to move longitudinallyto seatand unseat-the valve, the stem, however, being provided near itsupper end with a shoulder 13 between ,which andthe bottom of the chamber ofthe valve body 1 is interposed a spring 14 which tends Patented Oct. 5, l1915. Application filed November 20,'1913. Serial No. 802,060. i f i to hold the valve seated, as shown in Figs, l

is provided with a stuffing boX and is secured to the top of the casing 1 by means of the screw threads 3. The stem 17 of the the stem Sdownwardly against the stress of 1 the spring 14, thus opening the valve 5, which however, will close through the action of the spring as soon asthe handle is re-y A leased.

obvious that the cam surfaces`19 will force The stem 8 is'prevented from turning by I means Vof guides 22 which areshown Vas channels formed in the valve casing 1, thek said channels receiving the ends of the projections 21.

Since the valve will close suddenly when released, it is necessary to prevent, if possible, the shock and jar due to water ham mer, and for this purpose a cushioning chamber 28 is incorporated in the structurey itself, the said cushioning chamber being herein shown as formed in the base 2st, of the faucet, which constitutes the standard portion 25 and the coupling pipe 26 which is adapted to receive the supply pipe below the bowl on which the faucet is adapted to be mounted.

ln the construction shown, the part is provided with a tubular extension 27 projectingdownwardly and surrounding the valve seat 6, thus forming, within the part 24, a-n annular chamber in which air is trapped, which provides for the necessary cushioning effect.

TWhat I claim is:

A self-closing faucet, comprising a casing containing' a chamber having an outlet LE s, and being externally screw-threadedv at op*- opsite ends; an external valve seat at the lower end of said casing, there being an inlet duct leading therefromk to said chamber; a valve cooperating with said seat; a feathered valve stem projecting through the said inlet duct from said valve into the chamber and beingprovided with an annular shoulder within the chamber; a spring located between said shoulder and the bottom of the chamber; lateral projections at the end of the stem above the said shoulder, said projections having rollers thereon; a closing member screw-threaded on the upper end of said casing, said closing member having a longitudinal bore and a stuffing box; a rotary valve actuator litting and extending through said bore, and provided at its lower end with an enlargement adapted to lit within the upper end of said casing, said enlargement being provided at opposite sides respectively, with pairs of cam surfaces, the said pairs being separated by stops oppositely disposed and the members of each pair of cam surfaces being adapted to bear on one ofthe rollers aforesaid an internally threaded inlet member screwed on the lower end of said casing and havingl an inlet pipe and enlarged chamber above said pipe; and a downwardly exg tended tube within the last named chamber, said tube surrounding the valve and being of larger diameter than the inlet passage.

ln testimony whereof, I have signed my name tol this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS KENNEY.

`Witnessesz Jas. VJ. MALONEY, M. L. MALONEY.

Copies of this pat'ent'may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

